{"id":20140,"date":"2018-09-12T21:05:48","date_gmt":"2018-09-13T01:05:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=20140"},"modified":"2018-09-13T07:01:36","modified_gmt":"2018-09-13T11:01:36","slug":"worship-wednesday-when-storms-come-we-still-have-a-good-good-father-chris-tomlin-pat-barrett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=20140","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – When Storms Come, We Still Have a Good, Good Father – Chris Tomlin & Pat Barrett"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Blog<\/a>Photo Credit: TimesofMalta<\/a><\/p>\n

[Adapted from the Archives – on the occasion of Hurricane Florence moving toward the East Coast. Praying for mercy for those in its path.]<\/p>\n

For I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. <\/span><\/em>\u2013 Deuteronomy 32:3-4<\/a><\/p>\n

God is our refuge and strength, <\/span><\/span>a very present help in trouble.<\/span><\/span><\/em>
\nTherefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, <\/span><\/em>though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, <\/span><\/span><\/em>though its waters roar and foam, <\/span><\/em>though the mountains tremble at its swelling.<\/em> – Psalm 46:1-3<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When we lived in Morocco, we loved walking along the coast \u2013 along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. There were sandy beaches aplenty, but my favorite parts were the rocky outcroppings which stood as sentinels against the crashing waves. I will never forget one time, walking with a friend who prayed aloud as we stood by the shore on a stormy day. He said, \u201cLord, may the storms of our lives break on the rocks of Your mercy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Storms come to all our lives\u2026shocks, interruptions and losses that shake our faith and cause confusion in our understanding of good\u2026and God. We want to explain how such things can happen in the presence of a good God. However, our attempts at explaining fall pitifully short. How can we explain our experience of that good Father in the midst of every storm? He is present, even in His silence\u2026we lean in, and we find strong support\u2026through every storm.<\/p>\n

\"Blog<\/a>Photo Credit: GodIsGreatItsTrue<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cLife is hard and God is good.\u201d \u2013 Marshall Shelley<\/a><\/p>\n

These words were spoken by a father whose tiny son, Toby, lived 2 minutes in this world. Toby is short for Tobiah which means \u201cGod is good\u201d. Shelley goes on to describe more of his wrestling with Toby\u2019s brief life in a Christianity Today article<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did God create a child to live two minutes?<\/em><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t create Toby to live two minutes\u2026He didn\u2019t create me to live 40 years (or whatever number he may choose to extend my days in this world). God created Toby for eternity. He created each of us for eternity, where we may be surprised to find our true calling, which always seemed just out of reach here on earth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I can\u2019t explain the goodness of God but I know it. He is a good, good Father. He has brought me through hard places; He is with me through dark nights when I can\u2019t sleep. How can we bask in His goodness in easy times and not believe, even when our hearts are broken, that His goodness extends into the hard as well? Because of His comfort thus far in my life\u2026and that of beloved others\u2026I determine to trust Him in the present hard\u2026and with the future.<\/p>\n

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His loving-kindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations. \u2013 Psalm 100:4-5<\/a>
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What a blessing to read the Psalms and rejoice with those inspired writers who give us pictures of God present in our storms. Our hearts are also gladdened by modern-day hymn-writers who remind us of the truth of God\u2019s goodness. Casting Crowns\u2019 Praise You in the Storm<\/em><\/a> and Just Be Held<\/em><\/a>, and then David Crowder\u2019s I Am<\/em><\/a> all remind us of God\u2019s presence with us in the midst of storms.<\/p>\n

Chris Tomlin and Pat Barrett\u2019s song Good, Good Father <\/em>gives voice to my experience of the goodness of God. I hope you are encouraged by it, through whatever storms break over your lives today.<\/p>\n

Worship<\/a> with me.<\/p>\n

Oh, I\u2019ve heard a thousand stories
\nOf what they think You\u2019re like
\nBut I\u2019ve heard the tender whisper
\nOf love in the dead of night
\nAnd You tell me that You\u2019re pleased
\nAnd that I\u2019m never alone<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019re a good good Father
\nIt\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are
\nAnd I\u2019m loved by You
\nIt\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am<\/p>\n

Oh, and I\u2019ve seen many searching
\nFor answers far and wide
\nBut I know we\u2019re all searching
\nFor answers only You provide
\n\u2018Cause You know just what we need
\nBefore we say a word<\/p>\n

You\u2019re a good good Father
\nIt\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are
\nAnd I\u2019m loved by You
\nIt\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am<\/p>\n

Cause You are perfect in all of Your ways
\nYou are perfect in all of Your ways
\nYou are perfect in all of Your ways to us<\/p>\n

You are perfect in all of Your ways
\nOh, You are perfect in all of Your ways
\nYou are perfect in all of Your ways to us<\/p>\n

Oh, it\u2019s love so undeniable
\nI, I can hardly speak
\nPeace so unexplainable
\nI, I can hardly think
\nAs You call me deeper still
\nAs You call me deeper still
\nAs You call me deeper still
\nInto love, love, love<\/p>\n

You\u2019re a good good Father
\nIt\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are
\nAnd I\u2019m loved by You
\nIt\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am<\/p>\n

You\u2019re a good good Father
\nIt\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are, it\u2019s who You are
\nAnd I\u2019m loved by You
\nIt\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am, it\u2019s who I am
\nYou\u2019re a good good Father<\/p>\n

You are perfect in all of Your ways
\nYou are perfect in all of Your ways
\nYou are perfect in all of Your ways*<\/p>\n